How to Recover Your Funds If You Lose Your Bitcoin Wallet

Losing a phone or hardware wallet containing cryptocurrency is inconvenient, but it shouldn’t be fatal. Provided you’ve backed up your private key, recovering your coins is a simple exercise. Should you find yourself in such a predicament, however, there’s a few things you should know before reaching for your wallet recovery phrase.

Recover Your Wallet the Right Way

If you’re smart enough to store your bitcoin in a noncustodial wallet, you’re smart enough to make a backup. Whether you’re using a desktop, mobile, or hardware wallet, the process is much the same: look out the seed phrase you’ve stashed in a safe place for this very scenario and enter it into your replacement wallet. All going to plan, you’ll see your balance restored and your coins reappear in your wallet within seconds of importing your seed.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, however, as not all wallets rely on a seed phrase to restore access. Hashwallet generates a unique recovery key and recovery seed during setup of the smartcard device. When combined, these components can be used to regain access to the funds stored on the wallet, and must be stored separately for security reasons. Once the recovery key and recovery seed have been securely stored, they are permanently deleted from the smartcard.

In the event of wallet loss, the user can retrieve and combine these security elements, whereupon their new Hashwallet will generate the keys required to access the funds. Zengo is another wallet that deploys a keyless design. For the remainder of this guide, though, we’ll focus on conventional noncustodial wallets that utilize a seed phrase.

Sweeping vs Importing – What’s the Difference?

If your phone or hardware wallet have been lost or stolen, a third party may be able to access the private key. If so, importing it into your new wallet won’t prevent them from draining it at the earliest opportunity using the original device. To prevent that from happening, you’ll want to sweep your private key.

A private key is mathematically related to all public keys (i.e. addresses) generated for a particular bitcoin wallet and can be represented as a string of letters and numbers like the following example:

5Kb8kLf9zgWQnogidDA76MzPL6TsZZY36hWXMssSzNydYXYB9KF

It can also be represented as a seed phrase like the following example:

When you import a private key into a new wallet, it’s usually done by entering the more memorable seed phrase. All previous versions of that wallet – such as on a lost mobile, hardware, or paper wallet – still exist however. This presents a risk of the older wallet being discovered by a third party and the funds drained.

To prevent this, it is safer to sweep your private key into a new public address in your newly created wallet. This entails creating a transaction that empties the balance of the old wallet and sends the funds to a newly created private/public key pair that is known only to you. Most noncustodial wallets, including Ledger, Trezor, Exodus, Electrum, Samourai, and Metamask enable you to sweep a wallet, draining it and aggregating its balance into a new one.

How to Import Your Private Key Into a New Wallet

If you’re certain that your old wallet isn’t recoverable by a third party (the software has been deleted, for example, or your paper wallet has been destroyed), you can simply import your private key into your new wallet. When you do so using the Bitcoin.com Wallet, you’ll see the following option:

If you’re importing a private key into a hardware wallet such as a Ledger, there’s an additional step involved. First, you’ll need to import the private key into a wallet such as Electrum, after which you can send the coins to your Ledger address.

Finally, if you’re importing your seed phrase into a different brand of wallet – say, from Exodus to BRD – there’s one final thing to be aware of: derivation path. HD wallets create a master seed based on BIP 32, from which all subsequent keys are derived. The derivation path used can differ between wallets, and must be set correctly when importing. Walletsrecovery.org, which is still in beta, provides information on the derivation paths used by the main hardware and software wallet developers.

To summarize, then, if you lose your bitcoin wallet, sweep your private key into a new wallet, if possible, and check the derivation path if you’re switching to a different brand of wallet. The cost of replacing a lost hardware wallet or smartphone is considerable, but the main thing is that your funds are safe. Keep your wallet seed in a safe place and you’ll be protected in the event of acts of god, man, and unfortunate boating accidents.

What bitcoin wallet do you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship of any products, services, or companies. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.

Did you know you can verify any unconfirmed Bitcoin transaction with our Bitcoin Block Explorer tool? Simply complete a Bitcoin address search to view it on the blockchain. Plus, visit our Bitcoin Charts to see what’s happening in the industry.

In Case You Missed It

China has passed the country's long-awaited civil code which expands the scope of inheritance rights to include cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin. Inherited cryptocurrencies will be protected under the new law. Meanwhile, several Chinese courts have recently ruled that bitcoin and ... read more.

The Federal Reserve System was created after the “Panic of 1907” and ever since its inception in 1913, the Fed is one of the most powerful modern central banks in the world. Moreover, the Fed has always been either celebrated ... read more.

During the last six days, America has been feeling the wrath of a myriad of protests and riots in nearly every major city across the nation. The U.S. is experiencing an uprising like never before, but some of the protests ... read more.

The UK government is seizing funds in dormant bank accounts worth approximately $185 million to fund its coronavirus relief efforts. So far, 30 banks have been voluntarily transferring money from dormant accounts to the government, including HSBC, Barclays, Clydesdale, Credit ... read more.

In mid-May, news.Bitcoin.com reported on one of our mining pool videos being censored and banned from the video-sharing platform Youtube. The report had shown how Youtube has been censoring videos for a long time now, and the CEO specifically told ... read more.

The price of bitcoin and a number of cryptocurrencies have been sliding downward in value during the last 72 hours, after bitcoin touched a high of $9,700 on May 30, 2020. On Monday, June 1, the price is up 0.06% ... read more.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has put out a bounty for $5 million for the arrest and conviction of Venezuela’s superintendent of cryptocurrency. Joselit de la Trinidad Ramirez Camacho is now added to America’s ... read more.

Crypto-friendly travel booking platform Travala has reported booking growth as demand for travel returns despite continued coronavirus crisis and extended lockdowns in many places. Its booking revenue in May soared 205% and 60% of all bookings were paid with cryptocurrencies. ... read more.

On May 28, 2020, the digital currency and blockchain company Uquid has announced that the Uquid Shop is now live and accepting cryptocurrencies like bitcoin cash for payments. The team at Uquid has dubbed the market the “world’s biggest digital ... read more.

For the first time since October 2019, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell admitted to leveraging quantitative easing (QE) tactics. Powell explained on Friday, the central bank is now comfortable with leveraging QE on a regular basis. Furthermore, the Fed is ... read more.

Bitmain on Monday released the Antminer T19, a cheaper bitcoin mining machine, in an effort to regain lost market share. The Beijing-based company said the Antminer T19 has computing power or hashrate of 84 terahash per second (TH/s) and power ... read more.

Switzerland's financial regulator, FINMA, has approved two Zurich-based banks to offer a range of cryptocurrency services, including trading and custody. Maerki Baumann Bank subsequently announced the launch of its trading platform for major cryptocurrencies while Incore Bank is offering a ... read more.

Another $800,000 worth of bitcoin from the Bitfinex hack of four years ago has been moved to an unknown wallet. Whale Alert reports that hackers transferred 77.64 bitcoin (BTC) on Tuesday, which amounts to $797,000 at the time the alert ... read more.

Long time trader John Bollinger has warned that bitcoin's flash rally to over $10,400 on Monday was fake, adding that losses might be on the way. "This is a Head Fake at the upper Bollinger Band for $btcusd," tweeted Bollinger, ... read more.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has projected that the coronavirus crisis will cost the U.S. economy about $8 trillion. Many factors play a part in shrinking the economy, such as business closures, social distancing measures, consumer spending, a drop in ... read more.

Peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading data shows digital assets like bitcoin are growing extremely popular in Russia, despite the State Duma’s opinions and regulations aimed at crypto assets. On Monday, the Russian government published a draft version of litigation mandates called “On ... read more.

Bitcoin automated teller machines (BATMs) will become the next target for regulators, as world governments tighten screws on money laundering. According to Ciphertrace CTO John Jeffries, crypto-cash machines will attract "greater...regulatory focus" in a bid to rein-in alleged cross-border illicit ... read more.

Bitcoin's trading volume has experienced exponential growth which could reach levels similar to major asset classes, according to a new report by Coin Metrics. The cryptocurrency's daily volume could exceed that of all U.S. equities in less than four years ... read more.

Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso says he is opposed to reducing tax on bitcoin income to 20%, on par with stock dividends, arguing that most Japanese households find it difficult to invest in digital assets. The development suggests that Japan ... read more.

China-based bitcoin miners have started to migrate southbound from North China, according to local reports. The operators are having difficulties and are transitioning mining facilities for cheap hydro-powered electricity. Testimonials also show that 64 mining operations in the prefecture in ... read more.

Just recently, cryptocurrency evangelist Roger Ver shared a video on Twitter that shows a number of vending machines in Hong Kong that accept bitcoin cash and ethereum, but not bitcoin. A bunch of people got upset at the Tweet, including ... read more.

Bloomberg has forecast bitcoin to reach its record high of $20,000, and possibly $28,000, this year. According to the company's June Crypto Outlook report, "something has to really go wrong for bitcoin not to appreciate in value." Bloomberg points to ... read more.

Despite the economic crisis, cryptocurrency trading platforms in India are reporting record-breaking volumes and new users. "People in India are betting big on bitcoin," Paxful's CEO said. "The Indian market holds great potential and importance for the future of the ... read more.

Cryptocurrency derivatives trading volumes climbed 32% in May to a new record high of $602 billion, according to data analytics company Cryptocompare. Total spot volumes grew at a slower pace, rising 5% to $1.27 trillion in May, the London-based firm ... read more.

The Federal Reserve’s Chair, Jerome Powell has hinted at using an Ethereum-based interest reference rate in a transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor). Powell also detailed in a letter to Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), that the Ethereum version ... read more.

Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto will never spend his “1.1 million bitcoins” because he is altruistic, Patoshi Pattern researcher Sergio Demian Lerner has said. The Patoshi Pattern exploits privacy flaws of an early protocol, v.01, to identify blocks possibly minded by ... read more.

In Case You Missed It

China has passed the country's long-awaited civil code which expands the scope of inheritance rights to include cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin. Inherited cryptocurrencies will be protected under the new law. Meanwhile, several Chinese courts have recently ruled that bitcoin and ... read more.

The Federal Reserve System was created after the “Panic of 1907” and ever since its inception in 1913, the Fed is one of the most powerful modern central banks in the world. Moreover, the Fed has always been either celebrated ... read more.

During the last six days, America has been feeling the wrath of a myriad of protests and riots in nearly every major city across the nation. The U.S. is experiencing an uprising like never before, but some of the protests ... read more.

The UK government is seizing funds in dormant bank accounts worth approximately $185 million to fund its coronavirus relief efforts. So far, 30 banks have been voluntarily transferring money from dormant accounts to the government, including HSBC, Barclays, Clydesdale, Credit ... read more.

In mid-May, news.Bitcoin.com reported on one of our mining pool videos being censored and banned from the video-sharing platform Youtube. The report had shown how Youtube has been censoring videos for a long time now, and the CEO specifically told ... read more.

The price of bitcoin and a number of cryptocurrencies have been sliding downward in value during the last 72 hours, after bitcoin touched a high of $9,700 on May 30, 2020. On Monday, June 1, the price is up 0.06% ... read more.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has put out a bounty for $5 million for the arrest and conviction of Venezuela’s superintendent of cryptocurrency. Joselit de la Trinidad Ramirez Camacho is now added to America’s ... read more.

Crypto-friendly travel booking platform Travala has reported booking growth as demand for travel returns despite continued coronavirus crisis and extended lockdowns in many places. Its booking revenue in May soared 205% and 60% of all bookings were paid with cryptocurrencies. ... read more.

On May 28, 2020, the digital currency and blockchain company Uquid has announced that the Uquid Shop is now live and accepting cryptocurrencies like bitcoin cash for payments. The team at Uquid has dubbed the market the “world’s biggest digital ... read more.

For the first time since October 2019, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell admitted to leveraging quantitative easing (QE) tactics. Powell explained on Friday, the central bank is now comfortable with leveraging QE on a regular basis. Furthermore, the Fed is ... read more.

Bitmain on Monday released the Antminer T19, a cheaper bitcoin mining machine, in an effort to regain lost market share. The Beijing-based company said the Antminer T19 has computing power or hashrate of 84 terahash per second (TH/s) and power ... read more.

Switzerland's financial regulator, FINMA, has approved two Zurich-based banks to offer a range of cryptocurrency services, including trading and custody. Maerki Baumann Bank subsequently announced the launch of its trading platform for major cryptocurrencies while Incore Bank is offering a ... read more.

Another $800,000 worth of bitcoin from the Bitfinex hack of four years ago has been moved to an unknown wallet. Whale Alert reports that hackers transferred 77.64 bitcoin (BTC) on Tuesday, which amounts to $797,000 at the time the alert ... read more.

Long time trader John Bollinger has warned that bitcoin's flash rally to over $10,400 on Monday was fake, adding that losses might be on the way. "This is a Head Fake at the upper Bollinger Band for $btcusd," tweeted Bollinger, ... read more.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has projected that the coronavirus crisis will cost the U.S. economy about $8 trillion. Many factors play a part in shrinking the economy, such as business closures, social distancing measures, consumer spending, a drop in ... read more.

Peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading data shows digital assets like bitcoin are growing extremely popular in Russia, despite the State Duma’s opinions and regulations aimed at crypto assets. On Monday, the Russian government published a draft version of litigation mandates called “On ... read more.

Bitcoin automated teller machines (BATMs) will become the next target for regulators, as world governments tighten screws on money laundering. According to Ciphertrace CTO John Jeffries, crypto-cash machines will attract "greater...regulatory focus" in a bid to rein-in alleged cross-border illicit ... read more.

Bitcoin's trading volume has experienced exponential growth which could reach levels similar to major asset classes, according to a new report by Coin Metrics. The cryptocurrency's daily volume could exceed that of all U.S. equities in less than four years ... read more.

Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso says he is opposed to reducing tax on bitcoin income to 20%, on par with stock dividends, arguing that most Japanese households find it difficult to invest in digital assets. The development suggests that Japan ... read more.

China-based bitcoin miners have started to migrate southbound from North China, according to local reports. The operators are having difficulties and are transitioning mining facilities for cheap hydro-powered electricity. Testimonials also show that 64 mining operations in the prefecture in ... read more.

Just recently, cryptocurrency evangelist Roger Ver shared a video on Twitter that shows a number of vending machines in Hong Kong that accept bitcoin cash and ethereum, but not bitcoin. A bunch of people got upset at the Tweet, including ... read more.

Bloomberg has forecast bitcoin to reach its record high of $20,000, and possibly $28,000, this year. According to the company's June Crypto Outlook report, "something has to really go wrong for bitcoin not to appreciate in value." Bloomberg points to ... read more.

Despite the economic crisis, cryptocurrency trading platforms in India are reporting record-breaking volumes and new users. "People in India are betting big on bitcoin," Paxful's CEO said. "The Indian market holds great potential and importance for the future of the ... read more.

Cryptocurrency derivatives trading volumes climbed 32% in May to a new record high of $602 billion, according to data analytics company Cryptocompare. Total spot volumes grew at a slower pace, rising 5% to $1.27 trillion in May, the London-based firm ... read more.

The Federal Reserve’s Chair, Jerome Powell has hinted at using an Ethereum-based interest reference rate in a transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor). Powell also detailed in a letter to Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), that the Ethereum version ... read more.

Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto will never spend his “1.1 million bitcoins” because he is altruistic, Patoshi Pattern researcher Sergio Demian Lerner has said. The Patoshi Pattern exploits privacy flaws of an early protocol, v.01, to identify blocks possibly minded by ... read more.